Controller for 3D observation apparatus, 3D observation system, and method of controlling the 3D observation apparatus

Abstract

A controller for a 3D observation apparatus performing 3D observation based on parallax using a plurality of optical systems includes the following sections. A start time acquisition section obtains a start time when energization of the 3D observation apparatus is started. An interrupted time acquisition section obtains an interrupted time when previous energization of the 3D observation apparatus is interrupted. A non-active time calculation section calculates a non-active time which is a period of time between the interrupted time and the start time. A determination section determines whether or not misalignment correction to correct misalignment of optical axes of the optical systems is necessary based on the non-active time.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A controller for a 3D observation apparatus performing 3D observation based on parallax using a plurality of optical systems, the controller comprising:
 a start time acquisition section which obtains a start time when energization of the 3D observation apparatus is started; 
 an interrupted time acquisition section which obtains an interrupted time when previous energization of the 3D observation apparatus is interrupted; 
 a non-active time calculation section which calculates a non-active time which is a period of time between the interrupted time and the start time; and 
 a determination section which determines whether or not misalignment correction to correct misalignment of optical axes of the optical systems is necessary based on the non-active time. 
 
     
     
       2. The controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a previous start time acquisition section which records a previous start time when the previous energization was started in a recording section; and 
 an energization time measuring section which measures an energization time which is a time elapsed since the previous start time and indicates a time during which energization is performed, and which records the energization time in the recording section; 
 wherein the interrupted time acquisition section determines the interrupted time based on the previous start time and the energization time. 
 
     
     
       3. The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein the recording section is provided in the 3D observation apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a 2D/3D switching section which prompts performing 2D observation using any one of the plurality of optical systems when the misalignment correction is necessary but has not been performed, and prompts 3D observation after the misalignment correction is completed. 
     
     
       5. The controller according to  claim 4 , wherein
 one of the plurality of optical systems is defined as a reference optical system, and the misalignment correction is correction to change a position of an image obtained using other optical systems of the plurality of optical systems in accordance with an image obtained using the reference optical system, and 
 the 2D observation is performed using the reference optical system. 
 
     
     
       6. The controller according to  claim 4 , wherein
 reference positions are provided respectively for images obtained using each of the plurality of optical systems, and the misalignment correction is a correction to change the positions of the images to the reference positions, and 
 the 2D observation is performed using any one of the plurality of optical systems. 
 
     
     
       7. The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a recording section in which the interrupted time is recorded is provided in the 3D observation apparatus, and 
 the interrupted time acquisition section obtains the interrupted time from the recording section. 
 
     
     
       8. The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the 3D observation apparatus has identification information unique to each 3D apparatus, and 
 the controller further comprises a recording section which records a combination of the identification information and the interrupted time. 
 
     
     
       9. The controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a notification section which notifies a necessity of the misalignment correction when it is determined that the misalignment correction is necessary. 
     
     
       10. The controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a misalignment correction section which performs the misalignment correction by changing a positional relationship among a plurality of images obtained using the plurality of optical systems. 
     
     
       11. A 3D observation system comprising:
 a 3D observation apparatus performing 3D observation based on parallax using a plurality of optical systems; 
 a start time acquisition section which obtains a start time when energization of the 3D observation apparatus is started; 
 an interrupted time acquisition section which obtains an interrupted time when previous energization of the 3D observation apparatus is interrupted; 
 a non-active time calculation section which calculates a non-active time which is a period of time between the interrupted time and the start time; 
 a determination section which determines whether or not misalignment correction to correct misalignment of optical axes of the optical systems is necessary based on the non-active time; and 
 an image processing section which constructs a 3D image based on a plurality of images obtained using the plurality of optical systems, and which performs the misalignment correction by changing positional relationships of a plurality of images when the misalignment correction is necessary. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of controlling a 3D observation apparatus performing 3D observation based on parallax using a plurality of optical systems, the method comprising:
 acquiring a start time when energization of the 3D observation apparatus is started; 
 acquiring an interrupted time when previous energization of the 3D observation apparatus is interrupted; 
 calculating a non-active time which is a period of time between the interrupted time and the start time; and 
 determining whether or not misalignment correction to correct influence of misalignment of optical axes of the optical systems is necessary based on the non-active time.